Chair.



No. 633,087. w Patented se tflz, I899.-

. s. w. ammson.

CHAIR.

' (Application filed Apr. 15, 1899.4 (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheei l,

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N d. 633,087. Patnterl Sept. 12, I899.

- s. w. JOHNSON.

CHAIR.

. {Appiication filed Apr. 15, 1899 (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2] Jvwenoazlffofrzey.

UNTTED STATES.

PATENT @rrics.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 633,087, datedSeptember 12, 1899. Application filed April 15, 1899. Serial No.713,198. (No model.)

To all whom, it mag concern:

Be it known that I, SAMUEL WATSON JOHN- SON, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Newport News, in the c'ountyof Warwick and State ofVirginia, have invented certain .new and useful Improvements in Chairs;and

I dohereby declare the following to be full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in chairs; and the main objectsof the invention are to produce a chair that is designed for universaluse in the home, the school, the oflice, &c., and which by its peculiarand novel construct-ion is adapted for use by any and all sizes ofpersons and to conform to Whatever position they may assume, whether forconvenience at their vocatiOn or for the purpose of rest and comfort, toso construct the chair as to adapt itself automatically and noiselesslyto persons of different sizes and the assuming of different positions,and with all to combine the essential elements of cheapness andsimplicity in the manufacture and production of the chair.

Various other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafterappear and the novel features thereof will be particularly pointed outin the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a chairembodying my invention. Fig. 2 is alongitudinal vertical sectional Viewof the same. Fig. 3 is a detail of the chair-frame, the seat removed.Fig. 4 is a similar View of the seat in detail. Fig. 5 is a sectionalviewillustrating a modification wherein rollers are employed. Figs. 6and 7 are elevations of the chair as occupied by persons of differentsizes. Figs. 8 and 9 illustrate the awkward and uncomfortable positionsassumed by short and tall persons, respectively, When occupying theordinary rigid construction of chair now in general use.

Similar letters of reference indicate similar parts in all the figuresof the drawings.

In carrying my invention into practice I construct a chair-framecomprising the two front supporting-legs A and'the rear supporting-legsA, the latter being extended upwardly to form the side bars of thechair-back 13, all as usual. The front and rear supporttute an openrectangularframe O, which comprises the opposite side rails or bars 0and the frontand rear transverse connecting rails or bars D, the formerbars being preferably rectangular in cross-section and the latter barsbeing preferably round rungs. Each of the side bars or rails O isprovided with a curved recess E, which is formed onthe arc of asemicircle, the said recesses E of the two side rails or bars agreeingor corresponding each with the other and being preferably, though notnecessarily, lined on their upper surfaces with leather, as at E, orother sounddeadening material.

F designates an independent seat, the rear end of which preferably fitssomewhat accurately between the side bars of the chair-back, yet so asto move freely between the same, the said side bars thus constituting avertical guide for the seat in its movements, as will hereinafterappear.

It will be understood that the seat may be solid, caned, or given anydesign or style of cover, such forming no part of my invention.

Near the opposite side edges of the seat F and upon its under side aresecured in any suitable manner, as by screws, mortising, and tenoning,&c., a pair of arc-shaped supporting-blocks G, the same, it beingunderstood,

being formed on the same circle as the recesses E and therefore agreeingtherewith, the center of the circle being coincident with the chair-seatF and therefore with the center of gravity of the person occupying thesame.

In Fig. 5 is illustrated a slightly-modified construction, the sameconsisting in a change of form of support for the supporting-blocks G.In the figure referred to, in lieu of the arc-shaped recesses formed inthe side rails or bars of the frame 0, I employ pairs of loose rollersH, preferably covered with leather, or the rollers may be tight andnon-rotatable, as preferred. The former construction, however, Iconsider the most practicable and merely illustrate this slightmodification in order to show that modifications of the invention may bemade without departing from the spirit of my invention or sacrificing toany very great extent the many advantages inherent therein.

The seat having been mounted in position with its supporting-blocksseated in the recesses or on the rollers, as the case may be,

it will be observed that the seat is raised or elevated some littledistance above the frame 0 and is therefore capable of being tiltedbackward or forward to any degree within its limit of movement or thatit may be held horizontal. The relative angle of this seat is controlledby the size of the person occupying it and by the position assumed bysuch person. As before stated, it is my object to adapt the chair forpersons of dilferent sizes, and I have illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7 thechair thus adapted and occupied, the first figure mentioned illustratingthe chair as occupied by a person abnormally short or a young person andthe second figure illustrating the chair occupied by a person abnormallytall. In the former figure it will be seen that the seat tips down atits front end, thus allowing the feet of the person occupying it to restupon the floor the same as if he occupied a low chair, and in the secondfigure the front end of the seat tips backward, so that the seat isdisposed at the same angle as the leg of the person between thehip-joint and knee, so that the person is as comfortably supported as ifhe occupied a high chair. It will be noted that the chair-seat will alsoincline, so as to allow the occupant to stretch his or her legs in anattitude of rest.

A most important feature of my invention resides in the fact that theback of the chair is wholly independent of the seat, so that the backnever changes from the vertical, and thus it is that the angle of thebody and legs of the person corresponds to the angleform ed by the backand seat, so that the back of the person, whatever is the positionassumed, is always accurately and perfectly supported.

Another very important feature of my invention resides in the locationof the tilting seat with reference to the center of the circle upon thearc of which the supporting-blocks G are formed. This center, as beforestated, is coincident with the said seat, or it may be below the same,it being essential to a successful operation of the invention that thesaid center be not above the said seat. By this relative location withregard to the center of the circle upon the arc of which thesupporting-blocks are struck and the tilting seat the latter is adaptedto and capable of tilting wholly within the'vertical area of thechair-frame, and the weight of the occupant of the chair being above thesaid center the said seat will follow the position of said 00- cupant,automatically changing with each change of posture and will so remain,it being apparent that the center of the said circle will travel toopposite sides and always be directly in line with the center of gravityof said occupant.

It will be observed that the movements of the seat are entirelyautomatic and are controlled wholly by the difierent positions assumedby the occupant and that the seat is maintained in its adjustedpositions by the frictional contact between the curved surfaces of thesupporting-blocks G and the corresponding recesses E.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim is 1. Thecombination with a chair-frame, and an independent tilting seat, ofopposite arc-shaped supporting-blocks secured to the under side of saidseat, said blocks being formed on the arc of a circle the center ofwhich is at or below the said seat, and supporting-rests in the saidframe for the said blocks.

2. The combination with a chair frame having a rigid back, of anindependent tilting seat, opposite supporting-blocks secured to theunder side of the said seat, the said blocks being formed on the are ofa circle the center of which is at or below the seat, and rests for saidblocks located in the chairframe.

The combination with a chairframe having a rigid back and at oppositesides of its seat-frame having depressed arc-shaped Tests, of asuperimposed independent tilting seat, and opposite arc-shaped blockssecured to the under side thereof, said rests and blocks being formed onthe arc of a circle the center of which is at or below the seat.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of twowitnesses.

SAMUEL IVATSON JOHNSON. Witnesses:

ED. S. JOHNSON, REBEcoA T. JOHNSON.

